So you want to buy a Bulldog?

When you are buying a Bulldog it is very important to be familiar with the breed and some of the costs that may come up. We encourage that you become familiar with the breed before committing to the purchase of your first Bulldog puppy. It is a lifetime commitment and the costs does not stop at the actual purchase.

There are several Books available that talk about Bulldogs and some of them that we used for research were:

Bulldogs (A Complete Owner’s Mannual) by:  Phil Maggitti

Bulldogs For Dummies by: Susan Ewing

A New Owner's Guide to Bulldogs by: Hank Williams

Research

When we bought our first bulldog there were years of planning involved and we attempted to locate breeders and clubs in our area locally. Clubs are a great way to get started because people are like minded and some of the older Bulldoggers have been around for a while. Older Bulldoggers will have contacts and will want to help you with finding the best Bulldog breeder for your situation. There are also National Chapters such as The Bulldog Club of America that also have great resources.

Our first step once we committed to the breed is we asked our Vet’s office if they had patrons that had Bulldogs or if they had referrals that they could supply. Our vet was kind enough to supply a name of a known fertility expert in the Salt Lake Valley and that is how we got the name of our first breeder. Once we had the name of the breeder we called them and they supplied a wealth of information and mentored us.

Once you have done a little research and have determined you still want a bulldog you will also need to confirm that your vet is versed with the Bulldog breed. Sadly it is common that allot of vet offices will try to provide unnecessary care because Bulldogs have a reputation of being expensive so they see dollar signs. Your breeder as well as local clubs should have recommendations on local vet offices that are versed on the Bulldog.

Sometimes you will have to make a difficult decision to switch vet offices and that is something that we had to do when we obtained our first Bulldog.

Where do I find a Breeder?

A great place to start looking for a breeder is through the breed’s national club or chapter. The parent club for Bulldogs is The Bulldog Club of America. The BCA has a Breeder Referral Listing on a National level, which has within it, a list of Breeders who have fulfilled the requirements of the BCA. The BCA has a screening process to place someone on this list and they do not accept all breeders that apply. Things that they will look at are things like health testing, breeders intentions, and overall reputation based on referrals.

It is highly encouraged not to purchase puppies through Craigslist, Social Media Sites, Pet Stores or the Walmart parking lot. Breeders who sell through these venues are profiting from breeding and are not truly dedicated to the breed. In most cases once the puppy has been purchased by this type of breeder they will not stay by your side or warrant their health guarantees if they have any.

Responsible breeders are available at all hours of the day and they will help you with answering questions and provide resources if something comes up with your Bulldog. The partnership is a lifetime one and they should welcome you like family.

Good breeders can provide you with a complete pedigree of your dog, a health guarantee, and a bill of sale confirming the details of the sales transaction. If you are getting a puppy out of state they will also arrange for pick up or transport the puppy to you. There should be red flags if a breeder is not able or willing to deliver the puppy to you!